Elements Exhibit

Join us for this complimentary mixed media and found objects sculpture exhibit that will showcase the artwork of Andrew Black and Mercia Hobson. In Elements the sculptors will show a merging of materials of the Earth such as wood, clay, metal and found objects showing dramatic color and stark black and white imagery. Join us August 8 to September 2, 2017 for this unique exhibit. Meet the artists at the exhibit reception on Saturday, August 19th from 7-9pm.

Mercia Hobson is an abstract ceramicist and painter, educator and writer. Residing in Hendon, Virginia, she actively supports and serves her local arts community, and provides pro bono pottery lessons to special needs groups. Mercia’s prior work experience includes production pottery, event planning and education. As an artist, Mercia currently specializes in altered design of her thin walled ceramic vessels and 2-D wall sculptures.

Taking a challenge by her adult children who are professional artists to create art from the heart, Mercia brazenly deconstructs her ceramic pieces. She then rebuilds them, integrating welded metal, locally sourced reclaimed wood, glass and lichen to reimagine the pieces, even better than before, into large-scale ceramic wall sculptures and vessels. Her artwork is unexpected, sometimes jarring. Neither written explanation nor artist statement accompanies. It’s up to the viewer, she says, to experience the art, to touch it and quantify it on whatever level they want. Her works are featured in Richmond and Reston advertising photography. Mercia also judges regional art competitions and curates exhibits.

Andrew Black’s work is abstract, comprised of painted wood constructions that sometimes include bottles, Milagros (Mexican charms), feathers and other found objects and explores relationships of color and shape. Residing in Reston, VA he has been creating some form of art, from an early age, from drawing cartoons as a child, to concentrating on printmaking in college and working as a graphic designer for his 36-year professional career. He has been producing fine art for over 35 years and has always found that it is the process of creating that draws him into making art. He found an affinity with wood soon after graduating from college and have been working with it since the early 1980s. Recently he began exploring woodturning and plans to begin incorporating some spindle work into his art.

Andrew is a graduate of James Madison University and has been a Graphic Artist since entering the workforce in 1980. He has been the head of the graphics department at the U.S. General Services Administration for the last 33 years and looks forward to retiring in June, 2017, which will allow him to focus more time on creating art.

Event Details: On Display August 8, 2017 – September 2, 2017. The Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2017, 7-9 pm. All art will be available for purchase. A portion of the sales will be donated to Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other human services.

Arts Herndon is an independent 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization and serves as the official arts agency of the Town of Herndon. We operate ArtSpace Herndon, the Art Gallery and Performance Space at 750 Center Street, Herndon. We also provide arts education, arts scholarships, works of public art and grants to small arts organizations and artists.

All Arts Herndon programming and exhibits are made possible in part by generous contributions from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Town of Herndon, Arts Fairfax, the Nelson J and Katherine Friant Post Foundation, Steve and Pat Macintyre, and by our generous sponsors, supporters and volunteers.